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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Imtiaz show Nur and Deven when she finds them in Nur's room after her performance?

2. What state does Deven find Nur in after Nur sneaked away from his friends the first night they met?

3. What surprising scene does Deven encounter when he arrives at Nur for his second time?

4. What excuse does Nur give his wife for not feeling well the first night Deven meets him?

5. What is Sarla doing when Deven first arrives home after his first night at Nur's?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Nur tell Deven about Imtiaz when they speak after her performance in Chapter 5?

2. How does Deven react when Murad tells him he will not be going to Nur's with him? What does Murad do to try to appease his friend?

3. What is the guru-shishya tradition and why does Murad mention it to Deven in Chapter 5?

4. What does Murad say about the food when Deven takes him out for lunch after his lectures in Chapter 1?

5. What "bad omens" does Deven see as he rides to Delhi and upon first arriving?

6. How does Deven feel about Nur's letter asking him to be his secretary? Describe Murad and Deven's discussion regarding this matter in Chapter 5.

7. How did Deven and Sarla come to be married? In what ways is their marriage different from how Sarla imagined?

8. Why is Deven unable to ask Nur for an interview during his first visit?

9. Who performs on the divan at Nur's when Deven visits in Chapter 5? How does Deven feel about this person and performance?

10. How is Mirpore described at the start of Chapter 2 while Deven rides from Mirpore to Delhi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing Desai's language style and word choice in In Custody. What are some words that stand out to you and why? What words are repeated? What words are most impactful? Explain your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Examine the use of dialogue vs the use of description. Look at how each is used in the novel and what makes these uses effective or ineffective.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing Desai's commentary on marriage in In Custody. How is marriage represented in the story? How does it affect the narrative? Use textual evidence to explain your analysis.

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